Friday, March 23, 2007 Support for Luigi prompts mayor to plan party switch
CONSOLACION Municipal Mayor Avelino Gungob is considering joining the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) after he announced his support for Lakas-CMD sixth district chairman Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.
Gungob decided to leave the Kilusan ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), which has Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz in its roster, as she wanted him to have as Leo Go his running mate.
Gungob and Go were not partymates in the last election, and the mayor prefers his former running mate Ember Alinsug to be his vice mayor in the May 14 polls.
So, Gungob wants to join the LDP, which is under the administration’s Team Unity coalition. Forming an alliance with Quisumbing’s Lakas-CMD is his second option.
The mayor also heard reports that Councilor Alfred Ouano, who is in his slate for the council, will run for mayor against him.
But Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, father of Alfred, fears his son may be removed from Gungob’s slate. In a radio dyLA interview yesterday, he said they are preparing for that scenario.
He also denied that Alfred will aim for the mayoral post.
Soon-Ruiz is seeking reelection against Quisumbing, a Cebu Provincial Board member, and former Cebu governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna.
Gungob said his barangay captains told him of reports that Councilor Ouano will be fielded against him. But he admitted that the reports are still unconfirmed.
Gungob’s plan to join LDP, led by Sen. Edgardo Angara, is still under negotiation. “If nobody cares, I will be caught in between, I will join Lakas,” he said.
But Gungob denied getting P10 million in exchange for his loyalty to Quisumbing. “Di ko ikabaligya akong katungod, I have my own money (My rights are not for sale),” he said.
The mayor said joining Lakas is his last option because he is still loyal to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia. Garcia bolted out of Lakas because of the party’s “political inconsistencies” with her newly formed One Cebu. (OCP)
